Bangladesh’s $2.2 billion acquisition of 20 Chengdu J-10CE multirole fighters marks the largest aviation purchase in its history — signalling Dhaka’s dependence Beijing and a new era of 4th-generation air power under Forces Goal 2030.
The Chengdu J-10CE, known to have engine issues, was experienced by the Pakistan Air Force during confrontation with the Indian Air Force.
In a landmark move that underscores Bangladesh’s determination to modernise its military under Forces Goal 2030, Dhaka is pressing ahead with plans to acquire 20 Chengdu J-10CE multirole fighter jets from China in a deal estimated at $2.2 billion.
The acquisition represents the single largest aviation procurement in the nation’s history and a turning point for the Bangladesh Air Guard as it transitions into the 4th-generation fighter era.
Sandwiched by India and, to a lesser extent, Myanmar, Bangladesh must defend its constrained airspace and protect its littoral territory in the Bay of Bengal. The Myanmar Air Force has been violating Bangladesh’s airspace since the broader civil war broke out in Myanmar.
Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan, the Chief of Air Staff of Bangladesh, revealed last month that the nation’s interim government had granted in-principle approval for the acquisition of advanced multirole combat and strike aircraft, along with new surface-to-air missile systems and long-range radar capabilities.
Payments will be structured over ten years, concluding in the 2035–36 fiscal year, while deliveries are expected to be completed by 2027.
The proposal follows Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus’s official visit to Beijing in March 2025, during which Chinese leaders expressed strong support for Dhaka’s modernization efforts.
An 11-member inter-ministerial committee led by Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan has been formed to finalize the purchase, evaluate contract terms, and supervise financing, logistics, training, and industrial cooperation frameworks.
Although financial officials have refrained from confirming details, the interim government’s in-principle approval suggests that the deal has advanced to its decisive phase.
For Bangladesh, the deal marks a decisive break from its historical dependence on Russian systems, signalling cheap Chinese defence technology.
Its front line includes 46 Chengdu F-7 BG/BG1/MB interceptors (variants of the MiG-21 Fishbed), eight MiG-29B/UB fighters, 12 Yak-130 light attack trainers, and 15 K-8W Karakorum advanced jet trainers.
Many of these platforms, particularly the F-7 series, are approaching obsolescence and suffer from chronic maintenance and reliability issues.
A tragic F-7 crash in July 2025 that killed 36 people in Dhaka highlighted the urgent need to retire the aging fleet and replace it with modern and safer aircraft.
The initiative is also strategic in nature, designed to protect the country’s limited airspace flanked by India and Myanmar and secure the vital Bay of Bengal corridor.
DETAILS OF THE DEAL
The $2.2 billion package allocates about $60 million per aircraft, totalling $1.2 billion for the 20 jets alone, while the remaining $820 million covers training, logistics, support equipment, spare parts, transport, insurance, and infrastructure.
Dhaka’s selection of single-engine J-10C at $60 million apiece raises eyebrows amongst many defence experts, calling the deal very expensive compared to single-engine Gripen E/F or F-16V Block 70.
Thailand is acquiring 12 Gripen E/F fighter jets from Saab in a multi-phase deal, with the first four costing approximately $595 million. Deliveries are set to start in 2025, and the agreement includes associated equipment, training, and a significant technology transfer offset package. The entire acquisition of 12 jets is planned over a decade, with a total cost for the aircraft and systems estimated at around $595 million.
With $2.2 billion deals, Bangladesh could have purchased Gripen along with GlobalEye AEW&C aircraft or F-16V Block 70 with E-2D Hawkeye AEW&C.
Initial deliveries are anticipated within 24 to 30 months of contract signing, subject to final configuration negotiations with Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group.
Procurement will be phased through the 2025–26 and 2026–27 fiscal years, with progressive budget allocations approved by the Finance Division.
While earlier proposals floated numbers ranging from 12 to 32 jets, the finalized figure of 20 represents a balanced approach to cost and operational readiness — sufficient to equip two fully functional squadrons.
The procurement structure is likely to follow a government-to-government (G2G) arrangement, ensuring long-term maintenance support and training integration with China’s People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) ecosystem.
Dhaka is also considering a separate technical cooperation agreement for pilot conversion training, ground crew certification, and spare part sustainment to avoid the logistical bottlenecks experienced with Russian and Chinese equipment in the past.
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